Abstract
Objectives: To characterize the molecular structure of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA maintained in cultures of human retinal glia following ganciclovir treatment and to determine the biological activity of the DNA. Methods: Cultures of human retinal glia were established, infected with HCMV, treated with ganciclovir, and embedded in agarose, and the viral DNA was analyzed by field inversion gel electrophoresis. Results: The HCMV DNA was found to persist in cultures of infected, ganciclovir-treated retinal glial cells in the form of replicative intermediates. After removal of ganciclovir, processed forms of DNA in the 500- to 1000-kilobase range were found as well as 230-kb unit length genome. Infectious virus was recovered after termination of ganciclovir treatment. Conclusion: The data are consistent with the concept that ganciclovir's virostatic nature permits maintenance of HCMV DNA in retinal glia in a biologically active form that is capable of replication after removal of the drug.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 856-861 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Archives of ophthalmology |
Volume | 114 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1996 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology